Digging and tamping implement



No. 6I8,469. Patented Ian. 3|, I899.

o. m. KNOX.- DIGGING AND TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

(Application filed June 12, 1896.)

(No Model.)

II'N SSES: v INVENTOR pm may/2 ATTORNEY Fries.

ORVILLE M. KNOX, OF ONEIDA, NElV YORK.

DIG-GING AND TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 618,469, dated January 31, 1899.

Application filed June 12, 1896. Serial No- 595,249. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORVILLE M. KNOX, of Oneida, in the county of Madison, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Digging and Tampin'g Implements, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists in a novel construction of a digging implement combined with a tampingtool by means of an intervening metal tube which serves as a handle for the two tools, the whole constituting an improved article of manufacture which is simple and inexpensive and at the same time light, convenient, and efficient in operation, especially insetting fence-posts, and possesses superior strength to resist the strain it may be subjected to in its operation.

The invention is fully illustrated in the an nexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a front View of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the handle portion, showing the attachment of the digthe blade and the opposite end formed with a cutting edge a, which is at right angles to the axis of said stub. This stub is of cylindrical shape and of the same diameter as the interior of the metal tube i, into which it is inserted and either welded or brazed. The blade I) is of the shape of a spud, which is straight throughout and in line with the axial center of the handle 25, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Said blade is thus capable of resisting severe strains applied end wise there= to in the operation of digging or cutting up hard material-such as hard-pan, gravel, and even capable of cutting through stoneand by its aforesaid position in relation to the axis of the handle the said spud is caused to out diametrically across the hole in the process of being dug, and by turning the handle part way between the successive cuttings the bottom of the hole is cut up more effectually and completely across the entire width of the hole.

The tamping-tool 0 consists of a steel plate or bar which isbeveled toward one of the longitudinal edges of the plate to form a blunt tamping edge 0 and is formed with the attaching-stub c in the center of the opposite edge, which stub is cylindrical and is either welded or brazed in the end'of the metal tube 15 opposite to that to which the digging-tool is attached. The said tampingtool is made solid and is thereby enabled to better with stand the severe usage to which it is subject ed than if made hollow or with an opening therein.

The tube t forms a light and very stiff han dle for the two tools b and c, which are readily brought interchangeably into use by merely reversing the said handle end for end.

WV-hat I claim as my invention is- In a digging and tamping implement, the combination with the open-ended tube, the blade formed straight throughout and a stub in the center of one end and in line with the blade and said stub fitting in and secured to one end of said tube, of the solid tampingbar provided with a stub fitting in the oppo= site end of said tube and said bar being bev eled from the inner to the outer sides and the ends projecting beyond the stub thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 30th day of May, 1896.

ORVILLE M. KNOX. [L. s]

Vitnesses:

J. J. LAASS, M. A. LEYDEN. 

